This weekend marks the return of the Formula 1 circus to Miami, a year after Lando Norris celebrated his first victory. In a dramatic race last year, Norris clinched the win by capitalising on a well-timed safety car, fending off Max Verstappen for an emotional triumph. However, it was also a bittersweet moment for Aussie Oscar Piastri, who, without the safety car, might have secured his own maiden victory just two seasons into his career.
While Norris had the luck of the motorsport gods, Piastri found himself on the receiving end of unfortunate circumstances, ultimately finishing pointless. This setback, however, sparked a renewed determination in Piastri, leading him to dominate the European leg of the championship, coming back to Miami this year as the championship leader ready to reclaim his moment.
As both McLaren drivers prepared for the Miami Grand Prix, the team opted to give Norris the full upgrade package while Piastri received only partial upgrades due to the rush in production. Despite this, Piastri demonstrated impressive speed, outpacing Norris in the sprint qualifying and nearly doing the same in the main qualifying session.
During the race, the McLaren duo started in fifth and sixth positions, with Piastri quickly moving up to third. As he pursued Verstappen, the lead changed hands when Verstappen made a pit stop, allowing Piastri to take the lead momentarily. However, everything changed when a safety car incident involving Kevin Magnussen and home driver Logan Sargeant allowed Norris to pit unsupervised and reclaim the lead.
With Piastri having to pit just after the safety car was deployed, he returned to the track in a less favourable position. Shortly afterwards, a collision with Carlos Sainz ruined his chances of scoring points, resulting in a disappointing finish.
Norris, on the other hand, maintained his lead and secured the victory by a comfortable margin, marking a significant moment in McLaren’s season. This race also ignited a turning point for McLaren, leading to a resurgence in their performance, eventually seeing them come from being 99 points behind Red Bull to winning the Constructors’ title.
Reflecting on the previous year, one can only speculate how a victory for Piastri might have shifted the dynamics between the two drivers. Norris’s mental fortitude has been tested multiple times since, while Piastri continues to showcase his talent.
As Miami is set to host the race once more, Piastri is poised for redemption, driving a strong performance to solidify his lead in the championship. The stakes are high, and if he can maintain his form in the upcoming races, he may well be on track to become the first Australian champion in 45 years. The sprint race kicks off at 2 AM Sunday, followed by the grand prix at 6 AM Monday (AEST).